Watch: Rishi Sunak launches Conservative general election campaign
Rishi Sunak launched the Conservative Party’s general election campaign in London on Wednesday, 22 May.
It came after the prime minister announced that the public will go to the polls on 4 July after months of speculation over when he would confirm the date.
Many in Westminster had expected the election to be held in October or November.
Soaked from the rain during his announcement outside 10 Downing Street, the PM said he would “fight for every vote” as he attempts to overturn a 20-point opinion poll deficit.
In response, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told voters: “Together we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page, we can start to rebuild Britain.”
In an Instagram video posted after the announcement, Mr Sunak said although the public are “only just starting to feel the benefits” of Tory plans, “this hard won economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning… and that’s why I’ve called an election.”